South Asia

Pakistan political parties agree on coalition govt excluding Imran Khan

Published: 13:23, 14 February 2024

In the aftermath of an inconclusive election last week, Pakistan's major political parties the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) have forged a coalition aimed at steering the country forward.

The collaboration, excluding the ousted Prime Minister Imran Khan's party, comes as an alternative after neither party secured a decisive majority in the polls.
Facing a shortfall in votes required for a ruling majority, the PML-N, with backing from the military, announced its partnership with the PPP and several smaller parties to establish the next government. In a joint press conference, Shehbaz Sharif, the president of PML-N emphasized the coalition's strength, representing nearly two-thirds of the elected house.
Following the press conference, PML-N's spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb confirmed Shehbaz Sharif as their candidate for the position of prime minister. Aurangzeb also expressed openness to dialogue with Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, extending an olive branch for collaboration.
'The PML-N's candidate for prime minister is Shehbaz Sharif,' announced Aurangzeb on Geo News, adding that the party is willing to engage with Khan's PTI for the collective betterment of the country.
In a conciliatory tone, Shehbaz Sharif urged a spirit of unity, saying, "Forget and forgive; forgive and forget — come let's join hands for the betterment of the country. Sacrifice self-interests, set the issue of egos aside."
A party must win 133 seats out of the 265 contested seats in the 266-member National Assembly.
The Election Commission of Pakistan reported that independent candidates, many supported by PTI, secured 101 seats, followed by PML-N with 75 seats, PPP with 54 seats, and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) with 17 seats. Other parties secured 17 seats, while the result of one constituency was withheld. The coalition between PML-N and PPP aims to form a stable government in the absence of a clear majority winner.